Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-03-03
A GEORGIA YANKEE.
A CORRESPONDENTS ENTERTAIN
ING SKETCH OF EDITOR GRADY.

A Supernaturally Versatile Writer and
RatrIing Good Talker-His Newspaper
Experience in New York-On Short
Rations-Quick Work.
Henry W. Grady won fame long before
fame made him famous. 1t was Grady who
wrote the mastery description and subtle
analysis of the character of that rough old
rock of the Confederacy, Robert Toombs,
copied throughout the length and breadth of
the Union seven or eight years ago. He is
also the author of the marvellous story of the
Daniel boys which excited the interest of the
nation over a year ago. Grady it is who six
weeks ago so thrillingly described the at
tempts to lasso hog in the streets of At
lanta. The truth is that as a writer he is
supernaturally versatile He tackles gander
pulling, a statesman and a Young Mems
Christian association with equal intellectual
facility.
He astonished the New England Yankees
because he was the first specimen of Geor-
gia Yankee who had ever shown himself at
one of their dinners.
Grady displayed head, self control, wit,
tact and horse sense combined In a company
where the latter Ingredient is usually lacking.
Beyond all this he has something TO say, and
he took three days TO think it over before he
said it. When he did say it his manner
showed that he meant it from the bottom Of
his heart.
GRADY IS A TALKER.
first met Grady over five years ago. 1t
was at the Yorktown centennial. l lad
heard many an intellectual tidbit credited to
him. and l studied him with some interest.
He talks well, rafting along without effort,
and he is never at a loss for q word. In
terest is excited naturally, and is increased
by quaint Georgia phrases, such as ''Im
dinged" and ''I'm d'rotted." p" At times,
however, Grady takes on foreign polish
which heightens the effect of his Georgia
dialect While at Yorktown heard him ttQ
a powdered graduate of the naval academy
with ''what sang froid he got shut of an in
souciant scronger, who sprang from the old
regime in tacky section of country once
occupied by the vielle noblesse of the aborig-
ines'
last met Grady three days before his
celebrated speech. he was as musical as
mocking bird and as bright as button He
embodied his newspaper experience IN
series of homilies that would have done
credit to Ben Franklin. These homilies
were crammed home with stories so quaint
and original that the hearers shook with
laughter. Nor was he behindhand in the
art of ''chaffing''-an art in which New
Workers are supposed to excel.
What interested me more than all else
was his story of his newspaper experience
In New York. 1t was some time after the
war; The south was SO poor that he put
to New York in search of living He put
up at the Astor house and Travelled over to
The Herald Office. Tom Connery received
him kindly. Grady gave him an inside
view Of Georgia politics, and Connery asked
him to write an article about it. He wrote
two columns, in dashing style, and was over
joyed to find it printed on the following
morning He waited that day in the ante
room of The Herald Office from 9 am. to 3
pm. before Mr. Connery appeared. The
article was praised, but nothing was said
about pay, and the Georgian was too mod
est to mention it.
LIVING ON SHORT RATIoNs.
He applied for the post of Herald CORE
spondent at Atlanta. Connery replied that
The Herald had no salaried correspondents
in the south, but If he wanted anything
from Atlanta he would telegraph him.
Meantime he was at liberty to pick up what
news he could and forward it at space
rates. Back went poor Grady to the Astor
house. He had barely money to pay his ho-
tel bill and to buy a return ticket. So poor
was he that he went home without a mouth
full to eat between this city and Atlanta. He
kept The Herald posted on Georgia news,
however, and at the end of the month re-
ceived a small check for his services, includ-
ing the screed printed during his stay at the
Astor house. One day he received a teie-
gram from Mr.. Connery asking him to as
certain whether certain man had regis
tered at any Atlanta hotel. He found no
such name on the registers. Then he won
dered why they wanted to get track Of the
man. He went over the old files Of The
Herald and learned that the man had been
mixed up in some Cuban trouble, and had
left Havana fortnight back on Charles
ton steamer. Grady reasoned that he would
be more apt to run to New Orleans from
Charleston than to Atlanta. He telegraphed
to a friend in New Orleans, who discovered
the person wanted. Grady sent this dis
patch to Connery:
"Your man is registered at the st. Charles
hotel, New Orleans
The New York editor was astounded. He
had received the reply within six hours Of
the time of the inquiry. From that day
Grady's fortunes began to rise.-New York
Cor. Pioneer Press.